Nashoba Valley Tech panel votes for $650G hike in FY 14 budget

GROTON -- Given six scenarios for their operating budget for fiscal 2014, the Nashoba Valley Technical School Committee voted for the one that raised spending by $650,000 over the previous year.

About half that would be covered with an increase in the minimum contribution district towns are required to pay, by the state.

The decision was made following spirited discussion at a special meeting Tuesday at which Superintendent of Schools Judith Klimkiewicz summed up elements that went into the budget formulation process and concluded by presenting committee members with a choice from among different scenarios featuring increases in spending that ranged from $100,000 to $745,351.

The scenario chosen by the School Committee ends up with an estimated budget of $11,572,242, a slight increase over fiscal 2013 of $10,894,089.

The new figure included an increase of $300,000 over the minimum contribution already expected of the district's eight member towns including Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, Westford and latest member Ayer.

The district has not increased spending over the last two years and has only asked for increases over the minimum contribution five times since Klimkiewicz has been in charge. She told committee members that the school could no longer solve its cost problems by taking more money out of the budget.

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Klimkiewicz said she had already made savings everywhere in the budget she could and that there was no choice but to increase the district's request from its member towns.

"I think that a lot of savings have been achieved," said committee vice chairman Jennifer Rhodes.

Member Samuel Poulton advised that the district refrain from seeking an increase next year and wait until 2015 for the request.

"I believe this is a very unique year and the wrong time," said Poulton, pointing out that with the admission of Ayer to the district, a new stream of funds would be available in 2014, a fact sure to be noticed by local Finance Committees.

Poulton advised that the district take advantage of the breathing spell to work with Finance Committees convincing them that "the wall has been hit" and that this would be the last year in which the line could be held.

"After this year, the subject will be moot (but) I don't think this is the year that will do us harm," concluded the Chelmsford representative. "We need to save our ammunition for the real fight next year."

"I don't want to wait a year," insisted Littleton representative Charles Ellis. "I want to do it now. Our job is to advocate for the kids."

Fellow committee member Sheldon Chapman of Townsend agreed saying that postponing the action for another year might not be the right thing to do.

"It doesn't make any fiscal sense to me," said Chapman, saying that if nothing was done for 2014, the amount needed would only grown in 2015.

"We can't be afraid of the wackos (at Town Meeting)," said Westford Rep. Ray Riddick, insisting that the School Committee face up to the "malcontents" in their towns and support an increase.

Ellis agreed. "If that means hurt feelings, then so be it."

At that point, committee members agreed to have the district cover half the $650,000 increase and throw in another $50,000 from its stabilization fund, leaving $300,000 as the towns' share.

The district has shown that it has been fiscally responsible for years, said Ellis, and the amount being asked of the towns amounted to "chicken feed."

At that point, convinced by the arguments on the other side, Poulton changed his position and joined committee members in their vote to ask the towns for a $300,000 increase in their minimum contribution.

Should the numbers in the chosen scenario hold, Ayer, with 53 students to attend Nashoba Valley in fiscal 2014 would be assessed at $600,928; Chelmsford with 154 students would be assessed at $2,187,180; Groton with 33 students would be assessed at $468,592; Littleton with 51 students would be assessed at $689,712; Pepperell with 116 students would be assessed at $1,140,639; Shirley with 71 students, would be assessed at $715,441; Townsend with 102 students would be assessed at $703,202; and Westford with 57 students would be assessed at $703,202.

The fiscal 2014 budget will also be aided by contributions from the state for an estimated $422,903 based on Gov. Deval Patrick's recently submitted budget.

Driving the spending increases being asked by the district include improved technology, payroll (a 3 percent pay raise for some contractual employees), instructional materials, a new bussing contract, a new school-resource officer and maintenance.

Also costly is the hiring of a number of administrators, including a new assistant superintendent.

Klimkiewicz is expected to finalize proposed spending for formal presentation of the administration's recommended budget for FY14 to be made at a future meeting.

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